PARKER, CO - FEBRUARY 10: Adult Services Librarian Derrick Mason, left, talks, Tyler Van Hare, 10, and Ian Van Hare, 8, through how to change out a chroma key background out while editing video in the Fusion Lab at the Parker Library in Parker, Colorado on February 10, 2014. The Parker Library recently opened their new Fusion Lab where library card holders can mix music, make movies and create other digital media using the latest in digital software for personal or business use.

PARKER, CO - FEBRUARY 10: Gary Hicks and Linda Vincent attempt to program a DVD/VCR recording combo at one of the stations in the Fusion Lab at the Parker Library in Parker, Colorado on February 10, 2014. The Parker Library recently opened their new Fusion Lab where library card holders can mix music, make movies and create other digital media using the latest in digital software for personal or business use.

Tyler Van Hare, 10, laughed after creating a brief podcast as Derrick Mason fiddled with the sound effects on the recording of his voice.

Douglas County Libraries and the Parker Library hope to hear more laughter and “oohs” and “ahs” from their new Fusion Lab that opened Feb. 1
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Van Hare and his 8-year-old brother, Ian, entered the lab Feb. 10 after attending a Battle of the Books competition. Initially, Mason showed them how they could change the background on photos and video, using the green screen that encompasses the east wall of the lab.

“It is really cool,” Tyler said. “I’m not used to big computers like this. I’m used to laptops and games you can’t program.”

Then Tyler figured out how to use the keyboard on the music creation station at the lab.

“It’s hard enough getting them to leave, I don’t know about coming back,” said Tyler’s mom, Barb Van Hare, though Tyler and Ian both indicated they want to return.

The lab, which was the former conference room at the Parker Library, features four stations devoted to different tasks. One is devoted to making music or podcasts with a professional microphone, mixer, MIDI keyboard, speakers, studio headphones and an Apple computer equipped with recording software Pro Tools, iMovie and iPhoto.

Another is devoted to video production and editing with an Apple computer with the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, video editing software Final Cut Pro, graphics table and Sony HD video camera. Another station is a digital creative PC with a high-definition scanner and comic book-making software. There’s also a laptop with all this technology, and several iPads with these programs. Mason said the equipment for the lab cost about $25,000.

“The digital shift in our culture made it that we have to offer things like this to remain relevant,” Mason said.

The lab is an example of a recent shift and trend in libraries to be more than just collection centers for content but centers that allow content creation.

“To me, it’s all about providing access to things people normally can’t get in their own home,” said Amy Long, Parker Library branch manager, adding one of the original purposes of a library was to offer people access to content and technology they normally couldn’t get.

Mason, adult services librarian at the Parker Library, said a lot of people who have been coming into the lab over the past week had been experimenting with the different technology. He said he’s had about 50 kids come through the lab in the first week.

He said what’s been used the most is video editing and photograph preservation. One of the stations also has the capability to transfer VHS tapes to DVDs. He said while similar labs in places like Denver Public Library and Anythink are geared toward youth, they want all the community to feel they can use it. He’s also hoping the music station gets more use.

“That was our goal for our patrons here to create something and become the next viral sensation,” Mason said.

Long said staff members have already started brainstorming what a larger Fusion Lab would look like in their slated new library that could open in 2016. The library system first thought of the idea for a media creation lab about a year and a half ago but didn’t have a library selected. Parker was chosen to have the lab instead of new 3D printers.

The lab is open a half-hour after the library opens and closes a half-hour before the library closes. Patrons can rent out the lab for two-hour blocks or longer if there’s no one waiting to use the lab.

The Parker Library is located at 10851 S. Crossroads Drive. For more information, call 303-791-7323.

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